COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Studies at The University of Alabama is a multidisciplinary program designed for students interested in global affairs, international relations, and cross-cultural understanding, requiring completion of university, college, and departmental requirements totaling at least 120 semester hours, including general education, a major, and a required minor often in a foreign language; the major itself consists of 36 credit hours beginning with core courses such as cultural anthropology, macroeconomics, world regional geography, Western civilization, and international relations, which provide a strong foundation in global systems, followed by 12 hours in a selected field like international relations, international business, or peace and conflict studies, where students explore topics such as global governance, war and peace, political economy, and cultural dynamics, with at least half of these courses taken at the advanced 300–400 level to ensure depth of knowledge; students must also complete a focused area of study (9 hours) in a specific region such as Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, Russia and Eastern Europe, or Western Europe, allowing them to specialize geographically while gaining regional expertise, and at least 12 upper-level credit hours must be completed in residence; the program emphasizes analytical, research, and communication skills essential for careers in diplomacy, international business, law, public service, intelligence agencies, and global organizations, and encourages experiential learning through study abroad, internships, and interdisciplinary coursework, while maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the major; overall, the degree equips students with a comprehensive understanding of international systems, cultural diversity, and global challenges, preparing them for both professional careers and advanced academic study in an increasingly interconnected world.